Tag Archives: Rufus Wainwright

There’s a place I knowwhere the train goes slowwhere the sinners can be washedin the blood of the lambthere’s a river by the trestledown by Sinner’s Grovedown where the Willow and the Dogwood growsdown there by the traindown there by the traindown there by the traindown there by the traindown there where the traingoes slowTom Waits

Last time on Great River Radio, I played the Tift Merritt version of Tom Waits’ “Train Song” and I’ve been listening to that thing a lot in the last couple of weeks. It is the great lyrics and the wonderful guitar playing of Eric Heywood that keep me coming back. Then it had another effect on me, and that was to ponder why there are so many songs about trains in American music. You could do hours and hours of train songs, even if you just limited yourself to the good ones. But why? Is it the lure of escape? “My daddy told me, looking back/’best friend you’ll have is a railroad track'”… or is it the sound of the whistle and that lonesome sound of steel wheels on a steel track, long after the engine has passed? Is it because they are going to take us to paradise? “This train is bound for glory”?

I’m not doing train songs today – there are too many. In some ways, it is too easy a project. But I will be sprinkling some train songs by Tom Waits into the list, including a return of that Tift Merritt cover. It is also Halloween tomorrow and though most of you are probably not going to be dressing up and going out trick or treating, I’ll slip a couple of ghostly songs into the mix.

I’ve also got new music from Polica, The 1975, Linda Thompson (with son Teddy) and Goldfrapp (this one is awesome.) You’ve probably heard some of the new Paul McCartney by now, and I’ll have a typically McCartneyesque track from that one. There is new music from The Head and the Heart and something amazing from the 2013 release by Ben Harper and the great Charlie Musselwhite.

It’s a nice mix on this gloomy day – listen in live this afternoon or later on the blog.

Playlist
On The Road-Tom Waits
Cecil Taylor-Jonathan Wilson
Shake-The Head And The Heart
You Can’t Be Told-Valerie June
Sex-The 1975
New-Paul McCartney
Oh, The Joy-Trixie Whitley
Down There By The Train-Tom Waits
Three White Horses-Andrew Bird
Drew-Goldfrapp
Chain My Name-Polica
Werewolves Of London-Warren Zevon
I Scare Myself-The New Standards
In A Graveyard-Rufus Wainwright
Won’t Be Long Now-Linda Thompson/Teddy Thompson
Persuasion-Richard Thompson/Teddy Thompson
Train Song-Tift Merritt
Bottom of the World-Tom Waits
We Can’t End This Way-Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite

Follow, follow the sun
And which way the wind blows
When this day is done
Breathe, breathe in the air
Set your intentions
Dream with care
Tomorrow’s a new day for everyone
A brand new moon and brand new sun

When you feel life coming down on you like a heavy weightWhen you feel this crazy society adding to the strain
Take a stroll to the nearest water’s edge, remember your placeMany moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came

So which way is the wind blowing
What does your heart saySo follow, follow the sunAnd which way the wind blowsWhen this day is done

Xavier Rudd “Follow the Sun”

It is the final week of this academic year on campus, and students are working through their exams and final projects – they are busy and tired and sleep deprived, surviving on coffee. At the same time, the weather has been spectacular and all living things seem to be happy – especially the plants, but also the dog who wants to spend the day dozing in the green grass. On a morning walk today, Finn noticed a mother opossum and several little ones squirming around her while she sat stone still. A bit later, we passed an eagle sitting in a tree and staring at the river, looking for fish, I guess. The scent of lilacs is heavy in the air and the dandelions have passed from bright yellow to puffs of seeds drifting off in the breeze. We are now heading into the lightest, brightest part of the year with long warm days ahead.

As we walked, we listened to this new song from Australia’s Xavier Rudd, who is coming out with a new record next month. I decided to do another Great River Radio this afternoon, one more in this odd season of irregular programs. I’ve got a list of new stuff that has been accumulating over the last few weeks. Since the last show, we’ve travelled to California, heard a few musical acts, and worked hard to wind down the year. We’ll celebrate the last days of school with music from Katie Herzig, Trampled by Turtles, Anais Mitchell, Rufus Wainwright and Justin Townes Earle. Have you seen the Volvo commercial with Laura Gibson’s version of the old Sam the Sham hit “Little Red Riding Hood”? She’s now released that and we’ll share it with you. We’ll do a gospel set – just because – with music from The Civil Wars, The Brothers Frantzich, Iris Dement and Delaney and Bonnie.

We’ll also include a set of neo and real soul – from The Alabama Shakes, Nick Waterhouse and The Staple Singers.

I think you’ll like it – listen while you work, or check in later and listen from the blog. And enjoy the day!

Down at the docks, you and me walking
Watching you watching the ships coming into the harbor
You told me again of your voyages grand
I loved you most when you spoke of the seven wonders
And you reached in your coat for your telescope
See what you could see
When your ship comes in,
When your ship comes in
When your ship comes in you’ll be happyAnais Mitchell “Ships”

Just a quick reminder on this beautiful April day that Great River Radio be back this afternoon with a whole bunch of new music. I’ve really been enjoying this new Anais Mitchell disc “Young Man in America” and we’ll listen to “Ships” from that, as well as another ship song sung by a woman – Lissie’s cover of Nick Cave’s great “The Ship Song.” We’ll hear something from Dr. John’s “Locked Down” produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. The Los Angeles Times has said of Dr. John’s new record, “it’s the embodiment of everything he’s done but pushed in a clear new direction…one of the best of his career…”

When I read accounts of the shows at SXSW a couple weeks ago, Patrick Watson was singled out by several critics as having done the best performance that they’d seen. Patrick Watson is a guy and a band from Canada – he’s been compared to Rufus Wainwright, Nick Drake and Andrew Bird – and I love a song that starts simple and ends with horns! Speaking of horns, Tim Frantzich has a very Chet Baker-like horn in his new song “Dead End Angels” from his brand new “Our Lost and Wild Daughter”…and speaking of Rufus, we’ll hear an early release from his next album “Out of the Game” his first collection of new songs in five years, on which he teamed up with star producer Mark Ronson.

We’ll have a pairing from GRR family favorites Steve Early and Justin Townes Earle – Justin recently released his second album, and it is very personal – tune in for “Am I That Lonely Tonight?” We’ll also have new music from Patti Smith (eight years since her last record!), the young neo soul group Alabama Shakes, and Brandi Carlile. Are you one of those people who believe that Fergus Falls Minnesota is the center of the universe? (Yes, there are some people who believe that.) If so, or even if not, you want to hear “Fergus Falls” from Milwaukee’s Field Report. And to close out the show, Bon Iver friends Megafaun.

This and more coming to you this afternoon. Please join us today from 4:15-5:45 p.m. for Great River Radio or later on the blog. I think you’ll like it.

Like ships passing through the night, I’ll be taking over for Dan in the studio this week. As many of you know, Meghan and I had an opportunity to take a little vacation to wine country/San Francisco to celebrate our anniversary. California is indeed a land of contrasts. Rolling, grapevine-lined hills slowly merge into the Pacific before the sea water gives way to brilliant sunsets. But inland, massive cities bustle and brine in a mix of financial districts, locale flavors, homeless neighbors and high art. It’s no wonder California is often the songwriter’s muse.

What’s your favorite California-inspired song? Today on Great River Radio, I’ll play a few of mine, including tracks from Semisonic, Warren Zevon, Rufus Wainwright, R.E.M., Wilco and Dawes. I may even take a request or two. I also had a chance to listen to some great new music on the trip, so expect to hear a few tunes from Ryan Adams, Marketa Irglova, Gary Clark Jr, Kathleen Edwards, Beirut, Wild Flag and Mates of State.

Why are we drawn to music? It’s a perplexing question, and one we’ve addressed on a personal level on Great River Radio. Is it simply a matter of taste? Or is it a desire to hear or witness perfection? After all, the general public seems to be in awe of the artist who can deliver a “clean” performance. It’s how we judge our athletes, mathaletes, celebrities and even parenting skills. Flawless = success. But there is new evidence that suggests that although we may be impressed with perfection, our emotional connection to a song arrangement may have more to do with the imperfections – or the unexpected – than a perfect rendition of that song. Dr. Daniel J. Levitin has been studying this phenomenon at McGill University in Montreal with the assistance of many of Great River Radio’s favorite recording artists. And the findings are fascinating.

In an interview, the singer Rosanne Cash said the experiments showed that beautiful compositions and technically skilled performers could do only so much. Emotion in music depends on human shading and imperfections, “bending notes in a certain way,” Ms. Cash said, “holding a note a little longer.”

She said she learned from her father, Johnny Cash, “that your style is a function of your limitations, more so than a function of your skills.”

“You’ve heard plenty of great, great singers that leave you cold,” she said. “They can do gymnastics, amazing things. If you have limitations as a singer, maybe you’re forced to find nuance in a way you don’t have to if you have a four-octave range.”

Before you dismiss Levitin as just another academic trying to force all of his “bias and complicated science stuff” on a favorite subject we’d prefer to just experience without thinking about too it too much, you might be interested to know that he once worked as a producer and engineer for rock legends Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Blue Oyster Cult, the Grateful Dead and many others. Not impressed? Well, he’s also played sax with Sting (one of Dan’s favorite artists) and Mel Torme (one of Brian’s), and some guitar with David Byrne. In other words, he comes at this from a performer’s perspective as well as a scientist.

Levitin may just be discovering what many of our most successful artists have always intuitively known: it is the elements of unique character and unexpected notes and rhythms that we often connect with.

Geoff Emerick, a recording engineer for the Beatles, said: “Often when we were recording some of those Beatles rhythm tracks, there might be an error incorporated, and you would say, ‘That error sounds rather good,’ and we would actually elaborate on that.

“When everything is perfectly in time, the ear or mind tends to ignore it, much like a clock ticking in your bedroom — after a while you don’t hear it.”

Perhaps, this is a lesson for all of us? We tend to get caught up in the rhythm of life, humming along in a ceaseless succession of regular tasks, duties and activities. It is only when that beat becomes altered that we pay attention to the music around us.

Take a little time today to embrace the imperfections in our lives – the unexpected moments that give meaning to our day. And tune in to Great River Radio to discover some of those voices who continue to surprise us in unexpected ways.

In a new Great River Radio programming twist, Dan and Brian were engaged in a music-library showdown this week. Brian challenged Dan to come up with favorite five songs from 1966 (the year Brian was born). Dan accepted and volleyed his own challenge, asking Brian to come up with five songs inspired by works of art or artists. You’re going to love the music we’ve come up with for these setlists.

And as always, we have a plethora of great new music. You’ll hear from Haley Bonar’s new LP, “Golder.” We’ll check in again with Lucinda Williams and play new tunes from Marissa Nadler, The Mountain Goats, The Belle Brigade and The Raveonettes.

Join us live this afternoon from 4:15-5:45 (CST) for a great new session of Great River Radio.

Saxophone on the radioRecorded forty years agoAll I get for Christmas is blue

White lights on the Christmas treeThank God you are here with meAll I ever get for Christmas is blue
(Over The Rhine)

So many of the feelings we have during the holiday season seem to revolve around memories. Our childhood experiences come back to us stripped of any frustrations or anxieties, now just warm and lovely recollections of snow, decorated trees and the anticipation of gifts and the many foods that seemed to be enjoyed only in December. Among the memories many of us cherish are the songs and music of the season – whether it is Bing Crosby or Handel or the Ronettes.

For others, Christmas music can be incredibly annoying. As you stand in the cold pumping gas into your car you hear someone singing over the tinny outdoor PA – “it’s the most wonderful time of the year…” and you spill gas on your cold hands and wonder how you are going to pay the bills. Or your holiday memories just make you a little blue and you find yourself wishing for a different kind of music.

Great River Radio today offers our fifth annual holiday music program for your enjoyment and we hope that we’ll cover the bases for our listeners. We’ve found some old tunes and some obscure tunes (since it seems virtually every musician has made a holiday record) and some brand new stuff. We’ve got music from Artie Shaw, Coconut Records, Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Best Coast, Shelby Lynne, The Civil Wars, Little Jackie, Rufus Wainwright and Haley Bonar. You’ll hear some songs that are familiar and, we hope, several that are new to you. Every year, it seems, there is a new song that becomes a classic – we hope that one is on today’s playlist.

Join us this afternoon for some great music that just might get you into the spirit of the season.

Here on this riverOn a course for keepsAfter all these yearsWe’re still hereThis river runs deep(Sonny Landreth)

The harvest moon will occur tomorrow (September 23) and often this autumn moon seems to be bigger, brighter and more colorful than all the other full moons of the year. We won’t get into the science of that phenomenon, but suffice it to say this is a romantic and beautiful season in the temperate zones and the northland. The skies are bluer, the nights are cool, and the maple leaves outside our windows are now flaming reds and yellows and oranges. Some think this the best time of the year in Minnesota.

Living by the river gives us a particularly wonderful perspective on the ending of summer and the beginning of autumn. We watch the leaves of the trees in the Mississippi gorge change a bit every day, reflected on the water, and we know that this will not last long, and that within weeks, as the turning of the leaves comes to an end, and they fall to the ground, we will soon see snow coming out of gray clouds overhead.

But wait! It is still September and at Great River Radio, freshly into season five, we are still working through some the new music that has come out in the summer months – we are, in fact, harvesting the great songs that have been growing and sweetening over the summer. This week, we have new music from Amos Lee, The Black Ryder, Ryan Bingham, Admiral Radley, our own Roma di Luna, the long awaited Band of Joy disc from Robert Plant, as well as a few songs devoted to moons and harvest.

Playlist
This River-Sonny Landreth
All to All-Broken Social Scene
All That We See-The Black Ryder
Dancing Barefoot-Allison Moorer
Silver Rider-Robert Plant
Listen-Amos Lee
The Poet-Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses
Harvest Time-The Clientele
The Field-Mason Jennings
West of the Fields-REM
Fruits of My Labor-Lucinda Williams
The Moonlight Is Ours-Roma di Luna
Shine On Harvest Moon-Betty Carter
Like Rock and Roll and the Radio-Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs
Take It Down-John Hiatt
California-Rufus Wainwright
I Heart California-Admiral Radley
California Stars-Billy Bragg and Wilco
Cold War-Janelle Monae
Every Time I Eat Vegetables I Think of You-Ramones